Insight September 2018 - Connecting With Forgotten Areas

12 CONNECTING WITH FORGOTTEN AREAS
INSPIRING FAMILIES
ACROSS THE ARAB WORLD
Hamid and Aya, a Moroccan father and daughter, show what a healthy parent-daughter
relationship looks like through their SAT-7 KIDS program Me and My Daughter.
By re-enacting their real-life everyday ups and downs, they indirectly encourage viewers
of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to strive for healthy family relationships.
In a patriarchal society, where fathers are authority
figures to be respected and feared, children are
rarely encouraged to ask questions or voice their
opinions. Sons are often favoured above daughters
who are seldom empowered to strive for anything
more than to be a good wife and mother. Hamid,
a Moroccan father, and Aya his teenage daughter,
offer a different example through their SAT-7 KIDS
show Me and My Daughter.
A healthy father-daughter example
Now in its third season, this inspiring program
showcases the complexities of a father-daughter
relationship. Hamid and Aya re-enact their daily
struggles, arguments, and conversations with each
other on screen through comedy, drama, song and
Bible readings. “We are acting what we are living,”
says Hamid. “We argue about clothes, studying, lying,
and other such everyday topics. In our last episode we
held a discussion about asking questions. In MENA
society children cannot ask questions. They are only
allowed to listen and obey.”
“I would like kids to learn how to be more comfortable
with their fathers,” shares Aya. “I would like them
to know that it’s okay to disagree and to argue
sometimes; it’s normal!”
“We also encourage kids and their parents to reflect
on the Bible verses we share. We don’t want our
show to be only about comedy,” explains Aya.
A program for parents as well
Educational and impactful on several levels, the
program also indirectly models effective child-rearing
approaches for parents.
Viewers from across the region often communicate
with Hamid and Aya via social media, sharing how
the program has impacted their families. One viewer,
a mother, posted an episode on her Facebook account
saying, “Mothers be aware of what your children
watch on TV that damage your efforts to raise them
with good values. I recommend Me and My Daughter
to all parents!”
“ My father advises
me to not be
passive, but to
be proactive…
I want all children
to feel free
to have such
discussions with
their parents.
Aya